Duterte: Be vigilant even with flattened COVID-19 curve

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — President Duterte has called on Filipinos to remain vigilant and not be complacent even if the country has shown encouraging results in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts said the Philippines has flattened the COVID-19 curve, which Duterte attrib- uted to the country’s being on the right track in fighting the virus.

Despite the positive developments, the President reminded the people to remain vigilant and “not let complacency overwhelm us and reduce our sacrifice to naught.”

“The coronavirus curve flattened, meaning to say, there are now less people with contaminated disease called COVID-19. Recent scientific studies have shown that CO- VID-19 curve in the Philippines has flattened,” Duterte said during his address to the nation Monday night.

The Chief Executive stressed that no significant contamination of COVID-19 has been noted by government in the past few weeks.

“This means that the government’s effort, that we are guided by the best interest of public health and the crucial data provided by medical science, paid off,” he said.

Experts said the two-week modified enhanced com- munity quarantine (MECQ) implemented by the government in Metro Manila and nearby provinces last month greatly contributed to reducing the number of COVID-19 cases.

One of the important factors that helped flatten the curve, according to Duterte, is public awareness. He said the government truly appreci ates the actions of the major- ity who follow the minimum health protocols set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

The President also recognized the efforts by local chief executives, saying they “played a vital role in the implementation of anti-virus or virus measures in their lo- calities.”

“Mayroong iba talagang to the hilt, followed protocol to a T. Well, it redounded to the benefit of the people of their localities and I salute you for doing your duty very well,” he said.

During the meeting with the President, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said COVID-19 cases in Quezon City, Manila and Caloocan City have dropped because of the implementation of MECQ on Aug. 4-18.